Brevard Schools Letting Out For Summer After Tough Year

COCOA — Summer vacation begins Friday for more than 45,000 Brevard County public school students, marking the end of one of the most eventful, if not the most difficult, recent school years.

School board chairman Lynn Demetriades said changes imposed by the state, including extending the school day to seven periods, resulted in ''major adjustments'' by teachers, students and administrators.

She also said the state's controversial merit-pay system for teachers, being revamped in Tallahassee, had a ''devastating effect'' on teacher morale. However, the year did have its share of triumphs, the chairman said.

Brevard students continued to score well on achievement and functional literacy tests and performed extremely well in state, national and international science fair competition.

The board's next priority is smoothing out the 1985-86 budget, Demetriades said.

Board members plan to hold their first budget workshop next week. Public hearings will be held in July and August.

And while that is going on, hundreds of Brevard students will be attending summer school classes, beginning June 17.

Most of the students will attend ''enrichment'' classes or will receive extra help in areas they are weak in, school officials said.

The district is offering a two-week computer camp for students in grades 4-6 beginning June 17 at Apollo Elementary in Titusville, Tropical Elementary in Merritt Island and Ocean Breeze Elementary in Indian Harbour Beach.

The fee-supported program costs $55. Class size in each of the three schools is limited to 25 students. Basic computer language and programming skills will be taught.